y the knee, and led me out of the hall of
justice, as if both out lives depended on our expedition. I was about to
reproach him for having volunteered to aid the king's attorney-general,
when, seizing me by the root of the tail, for the want of a button-hole,
he said, with evident satisfaction:

"Affairs go on swimmingly, my dear Sir John! I do not remember to have
been employed, for some years, in a more interesting litigation. Now
this cause, which, no doubt, you think is drawing to a close, has
just reached its pivot, or turning-point; and I see every prospect of
extricating our client with great credit to myself."

"How! my brother Downright!" I interrupted; "the accused is finally
sentenced, if not actually executed!"

"Not so fast, my good Sir John--not so fast, by any means. Nothing
is final in law, while there is a farthing to meet the costs, or the
criminal can yet gasp. I hold our case to be in an excellent way;
much better than I have deemed it at any time since the accused was
arraigned."

Surprise left me no other power than that which was necessary to demand
an explanation.

"All depends on the single fact, dear sir," continued my brother
Downright, "whether the head is still on the body of the accused or not.
Do you proceed, as fast as possible, to the place of execution; and,
should our client still have a head, keep up his spirits by a proper
religious discourse, always preparing him for the worst, for this is no
more than wisdom; but, the instant his tail is separated from his body,
run hither as fast as you can, to apprise me of the fact. I ask but two
things of you--speed in coming with the news, and perfect certainty that
the tail is not yet attached to the rest of the frame, by even a hair. A
hair often turns the scales of justice!"

"The case seems desperate--would it not be as well for me to run down to
the palace, at once; demand an audience of their majesties, throw myself
on my knees before the royal pair, and implore a pardon?"

"Your project is impracticable, for three sufficient reasons: firstly,
there is not time; secondly, you would not be admitted without a special
appointment; thirdly, there is neither a king nor a queen!"

"No king in Leaphigh!"

"I have said it."

"Explain yourself, brother Downright, or I shall be obliged to refute
what you say, by the evidence of my own senses."

"Your senses will prove to be false witnesses then. Formerly there was
a king in Leaphigh,